As he calls for VA secretary to resign, Rep. Mike Coffman’s recent vote is highlighted

U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman has touted the fact he was among the first to call for the resignation of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, but as early as January Coffman voted against a federal spending bill that included $100 million to help the VA reduce a backlog of veterans waiting for care.

Coffman was joined by all four GOP members of the Colorado delegation in opposing a spending bill that gave additional dollars to the VA and also included more than $1 billion in spending for health care programs related to President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

Recent allegations have come to the forefront at the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Fort Collins, and other medical centers around the country, that staff members falsified patient scheduling records to give the impression that veterans were receiving care faster than they actually were. Moreover, claims have been made against a VA hospital in Phoenix that nearly 40 veterans died while waiting for treatment

Coffman, a third-term incumbent, is vying for re-election in the competitive Aurora based 6th Congressional District, and, as of late, has repeatedly assailed the VA and the Obama administration.

Coffman’s challenger, Democrat Andrew Romanoff, said in a statement Thursday the “problems at the VA will be resolved not by words but by action.”

“That means demanding accountability both from the administration and from Congress. Our veterans deserve no less,” Romanoff, a former Colorado House Speaker, said.

“I voted against that bill because it cut veterans benefits by a disturbing $6 billion dollars, and I think our Johnny-come-lately critic knows that,” Coffman, himself a military veteran, said in the statement.

Coffman referred to a $6 billion cost-of-living adjustment for military retirees in the multi-billion dollar spending bill. In a January statement issued after the vote on the spending bill, however, Coffman made no direct mention of veterans benefits.

The congressman was lauded for his vote by Concerned Veterans for America and has been a vocal critic of the VA’s handling of a replacement hospital being built in his Aurora district. Recently he held a VA Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations here in Denver where he castigated department officials.

Tyler Sandberg, Coffman’s campaign manager, used Thursday’s report from the Sentinel to take aim at Romanoff.

“The gall it takes for Speaker Romanoff to attack Mike Coffman on standing up for veterans only underscores what a spineless, sleazy politician he is,” Sandberg said. “If Andy had bothered to check his facts he would understand that Mike voted against the bill because it cut veterans benefits by over $6 billion.”

That is called a ‘smell the GOP hypocrisy’ moment…. Mike, I won’t be sending you back to Congress this fall…. you now have three votes… for your opponent.

Average_Voter

Only government thinking would lead to the conclusion that if we just throw more money at the problem, it will solve everything. Remember, the VA seemed to have plenty of money to offer bonuses to management to do the job they were already overpaid to do. They also have managed to go way over budget on the three VA hospitals under construction, across the nation, that are way behind schedule.
It is callous and disingenuous to claim this scandal was because of funding. It goes much deeper than that. It is a matter of integrity, competence, and dedication. VA officials intentionally put vets at risk. Until Coffman came along, it does not appear that VA whistle blowers had anyone they trusted to go to.
Three votes for Coffman’s opponent? Yeah, that will fix the problem. Kick out the only veteran in the Colorado congressional delegation and remove him as the chairman of the House VA subcommittee that brought all this to the public’s and the executive branch’s attention. Keep in mind that Eric Shinseki was the head of the VA for over five years and seemed to have no idea any of this was taking place.
It’s not like Romanoff has a prayer of being appointed to the House VA or Armed Services committees. I guess the Democratic solution is if no one shines a spotlight on the problem, then there is no problem. Veterans died because of such ineptitude.

gwats1957

I have plenty more reasons not to vote for Coffman, and this VA problem has been going on for decades now. Republicans and Democrats who were calling for Shinseki’s head wern’t doing it because they were concerned about the Vets… they were mugging for the camera, and pandering for votes….

johnkrats

Not sure what the problem is? Lots of knuckleheads did stupid things for pussy and money, next.

Lynn Bartels thinks politics is like sports but without the big salaries and protective cups. The Washington Post's "The Fix" blog has named her one of Colorado's best political reporters and tweeters.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.